Bradley thrilled to lead out Lions with ‘best friend’ Jermain Defoe, says mum
Battling Bradley Lowery will be thrilled to lead England out at Wembley tomorrow with his “best friend” Jermain Defoe, his mother has said.
The five-year-old’s battle with a rare cancer has touched the football world.
Bradley was picked last month to be a mascot for the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, since when his hero Defoe has been brought back into the England squad.
The Sunderland fan, who has neuroblastoma, has struck up a friendship with the striker, with Defoe and other Black Cats stars visiting him in hospital when he was undergoing life-prolonging treatment.
His mother Gemma, from Blackhall, County Durham, said that Bradley was already excited to be asked to be a mascot for England – a role he has performed several times for Sunderland this season.
Speaking to Adrian Chiles on BBC Radio 5 Live, she said: “To find out thatJermain is going to be there as well just totally topped it off for him.”
When Bradley was first invited, Mrs Lowery had warned Bradley that Defoe would not be in the England squad, so he would have to walk on to the pitch with another player.
“All of a sudden, we get told that Jermain has been called up,” she told the radio show.
“For him to just be in the dressing room when Bradley goes is going to be absolutely fantastic for him.”
Mrs Lowery said Bradley has got used to his relationship with the Sunderland star.
“At the very beginning it was just amazing, it was his dream come true, his hero, Jermain,” she said.
“Now he just calls him his best friend, it’s just normal for him.”
Mrs Lowery said the experiences Bradley is having are “surreal”.
“It gives us memories we can obviously carry with us for the rest of our lives as well,” she said.
When Bradley was being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, Defoe gave him a cuddle and the young fan fell asleep in his arms.
Bradley was invited to the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year show and a shot he struck in the warm-up during Sunderland’s game against Chelsea was picked as Match Of The Day’s goal of the month.